Name: EcclesPlayed by: Spike MilliganCharacteristics: Eccles was one of the show’s secondary characters but became extremely popular and he is regarded as epitomising the show’s humour. Milligan visualised Eccles as a tall, lanky teenager or young man who was amiable and well meaning, but incredibly stupid. When told to ‘shut up’, he frequently joins in and continues long after everyone else has finished. He is friends with Bluebottle and together, they assist Neddie Seagoon. Eccles takes things that he hears literally, with humorous and occasionally insightful results.Character Based Upon: Milligan’s love of classic Walt Disney cartoons especially Goofy.Catch Phrases: “Fine, fine, fine”; “Shut up Eccles”; “I’m the famous Eccles”

Name: Minnie BannisterPlayed by: Spike MilliganCharacteristics: Minnie is a feeble old spinster but partner of Henry Crun who alludes to an interesting past, possibly dancing the Can-can at the Windmill Theatre and is still interested in modern music. She appears to have had a passionate affair with Major Bloodnok and still flirts with him, like a young girl in many episodes.Character Based Upon: Not knownCatch Phrases: “Henrryyy”; “We’ll all be murdered in our beds!”

Name: Major Denis Bloodnok, IND.ARM. RTD. (Military idiot, coward and bar)Played by: Peter SellersCharacteristics: Bloodnok is a corrupt military idiot who suffers from flatulence and his entrance is often accompanied by appropriate noises. He is a complete coward who will sell and betray anyone or anything for money. Bloodnok is frequently referred to as a womaniser. Seagoon was previously his batman.Character Based Upon: Probably built upon the crusty old officers played by Sellers during his time with ENSA (Entertainment Service Association)Catch Phrases: “It was hell in there”; “Nurse, the screens”; “No more curried eggs for me”

Name: BluebottlePlayed by: Peter SellersCharacteristics: Bluebottle is a squeaky voiced Boy Scout from East Finchley who usually gets blown up in every episode. He is patriotic and willing to work for sweets, though not always successfully, and is a companion of Eccles with whom he often has comic dialogues. Bluebottle reads his stage directions out loud and always asks for audience applause.Character Based Upon: Ruxton Hayward, a scoutmaster once met by Sellers.Catch Phrases: “You rotten swine, you deaded me”; “I don’t like this game”; “Enter Bluebottle, waits for applause”; “Not a sausage”;

Name: Henry CrunPlayed by: Peter SellersCharacteristics: An elderly idiot and partner of Minnie Bannister, Henry Crun often struggles to keep up with the action around him whilst squabbling with Minnie. Both Crun and Bannister often play significant parts in the stories sharing an extended scene between them.Character Based Upon: Not knownCatch Phrases: “You can’t get the wood you know”;

Name: The Hon. Hercules Grytpype-ThynnePlayed by: Peter SellersCharacteristics: A plausible, smooth, well-educated member of the aristocracy but also a scheming cad, Grytpype-Thynne generally collaborates with Count Moriarty to swindle Neddie Seagoon. He is usually impoverished and the plot consists of him thinking up a money making scheme, with Seagoon being the fall-guy. In early scripts, however, Grytpype was often cast as a government official, and not necessarily a villain. His relationship with Moriarty also changes from equal collaborator, to Moriarty becoming his lackey. References to Grytpype’s homosexuality are made frequently during the shows.Character Based Upon: Possibly the actor George Sanders, according to Sellers.Catch Phrases: “You silly twisted boy”; “Moriarty, please..”;

Name: FlowerdewPlayed by: Peter SellersCharacteristics: A camp and effeminate man who makes infrequent appearances throughout the shows. He is often some type of official and is very good at using a sewing machine.Character Based Upon: Not knownCatch Phrases: None

Name: Little JimPlayed by: Spike MilliganCharacteristics: A timid child who isEccles’ nephew and has only one line.Character Based Upon: The phrase was originated by Peter Seller’s young son.Catch Phrases: “He’s fallen in the water”

Name: Mate / Willium CobblersPlayed by: Peter SellersCharacteristics: A working class cockney idiot who played all sorts of roles, but mostly officials such as policemen, soldiers and various menials. Reported to be related to Grytpype- Thynne and calls everybody ‘mate’.Character Based Upon: A hardware store owner known to the Goons.Catch Phrases: “You can’t park ‘ere, mate”.

Name: Count Jim Toulouse- MoriartyPlayed by: Spike MilliganCharacteristics: Moriarty is an impoverished member of the French aristocracy who has turned to crime to support his lifestyle. He and his criminal counterpart Grytpype- Thynne always appear to be permanently destitute and he is often found scavenging in dustbins looking for food. Over the years, Moriarty changed from a debonair and efficient French criminal mastermind and confidence trickster into a snivelling sidekick of Grytpype-Thynne, who is often disparaging of his behaviour.Character Based Upon: Probably Professor Moriarty in the Sherlock Holmes stories.Catch Phrases: “Sapristi nabolas!”; “Sapristi nyuckoes!” ; “Sapristi bombpetts!”; “Owwww”;

Name: Neddie SeagoonPlayed by: Harry SecombeCharacteristics: Seagoon was the lead role and always played by Secombe. He would sometimes have a different name, to fit in with the setting of the plot e.g. Caractacus Seagoon in ‘The Histories of Pliny the Elder’; Winston Seagoon in ‘Nineteen Eighty Five’; Prof Ned Quatermess in “The Scarlet Capsule’; Samuel Pepys in ‘The Flea’; Neddie Toulouse-Lautrec in ‘Tales of Montmartre’; Ned Scratchitt in ‘A Christmas Carol’; Robin Hood in ‘Robin Hood & his Merry Men’ and Nugent Dirt as a Yorkshireman, also in ‘A Christmas Carol’.
Neddie is an honest but gullible character who is willing to lay down his life for his country but is frequently exploited by Moriarty and Grytpype-Thynne. He is often unemployed and episodes start with him taking a new job which leads to trouble. Physically, he usually resembles Secombe himself, being short and stout and usually Welsh, although Secombe also played Yorkshiremen when the script required, as above.Character Based Upon: Devised by Secombe and loosely based upon himself.Catch Phrases: “What, what, what, what, what?”; “Needle nardle noo”; “ I don’t wish to know that”; “Ying tong yiddle I po”; “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”back to top